Military chess game



B. HOFFMAN IILITARY CHESS G-AIE M y 21, 3 Skeets-ShQet 1 a v n c l.12 12 Filed Jan. 29, 1944 l n 0 O A. a. l, 0

If? -4. INVENTOR.

May 21,. 1346. g HOFFMAN 2,400,644

' nan-1m! cHsss em Tiled Jan. 29. 1944 3 Shoots-Sheet' 2 May 21, 1946. a HOFFMAN $400,644

" MILITARY CHESS GAME Filed Jan. 29, 1944 I s Sheets-sheaf. 3

IINVENTOR. jezjamzvfyffmarz Way I A TTOR/VEX Patented May 21, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MILITARY CHESS GAME Benjamin Hoffman, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application January '29, 1944, SerialNo. 520,154

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a military chess game.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a military chess game characterized by a board formed with twelve squares along one side and eight along the other in a manner so that players may place their pieces along the length of the board on opposite sides thereof.

A further object of the invention proposes the provision of a folding smoke screen adapted to be extended along the center of the board in a manner to separate the board and permit the players to secretly position their pieces in the starting squares so that when the smoke screenis removed to start the game, the set up of each players pieces will be revealed, adding the element of surprise to the game and thus increasing the interest thereof.

A further object of the invention proposes the provision of a military chess game in which actual military moves of a battlefield are accurately simulated and in which the addition of the smoke screen permits the element of surprise to be carried out.

Still another object of the invention proposes the provision of a removable and foldable overcast section which is adapted to be mounted upon the smoke screen to extend in opposite directions therefrom over the top of the board to further eliminate the possibility of the players observing the manner in which his opponent is setting up his pieces.

Still another object of the invention proposes the provision of a game in which each person is provided with eighteen pieces consisting of eight constructed in accordance for playing the game with the pieces set in a proper starting position on opposite sides of the board.

Fig. 3 is a partial view of the board illustrating the manner in which the'infantry pieces are moved.

Fig. 4 is a partial view of the board illustrating the manner in which the light tank pieces may be moved.

Fig. 5 is a portion of the board illustrating the manner in which the heavy tank pieces may be moved.

Fig. 6 is a portion of the board illustrating the manner in which the airplane pieces may be moved.

Fig. 7 is a partial view of the board illustrating the manner in which the may be moved.

Fig. 8 is a portion of the board illustrating the manner in which the heavy artillery pieces may be moved.

Fig. 9 is a View of the board illustrating the manner in which the winner is determined.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the board with a modification of anti-aircraft gun pieces the invention.

Fig. '11 is a plan view of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a partial vertical sectional View taken on the line I2--|2 of Fig. 11.

infantrymen, two light tanks, two heavy tanks, 7

two airplanes, two anti-aircraft guns, and two heavy artillery pieces, with each of the pieces having specific moves with relation to each other and the ability to knock each other out of the game to permit a winner to be determined when one of the opposing players has managed to'move one of his pieces the complete width of the board and to the rear line of defense of. his opponent.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, .reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features" of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating each of the difierent types of pieces used in playing the game.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the'board used The military chess game, according to this invention, is adapted to be played upon a checker board I 0 having its surface divided into a plurality of squares H. The board I0 is provided with twelve squares along one side and eight squares along its adjacent side. This construction imparts a rectangular shape to the board 18. A group of differently colored military pieces l2 are adapted to be placed on the board in certain allowable positions by the players. The pieces 12 are differently colored to be distinguishable by the players, and at the start of the game, as shown in Fig. 2, the pieces may be arranged in any desired positions in the first two rows on opposite sides of the length of the board ID, The pieces l2 are preferably eighteen in number for each side and consist of eight infantry men H two anti-aircraft guns l2 two light tanks 12, two heavy tanks l2 two airplanes I2 and two heavy artillery pieces l2 The board l6 is also provided with a foldable smoke screen l3. This foldable smoke screen I3 is adapted to be extended along the center of the'l'ength of the board, permitting each of the players: to position his pieces fl as desired upon his side of the board independently and secretly board Ill. the pieces are adapted it occupies.

1 ing into the set up of the pieces of his opponent.

In playing the game each of the pieces I2 is adapted to be moved in a specific direction and a given number of squares upon the face of the vidually described.

The infantry pieces which they are adapted to be moved on the board i is illustrated in Fig. l2 are similar to the pawns chess game and is the only piece whose move is similar to the pieces in a chess game. On its initial move from its starting position the infantry piece H may move at option one or two squares in anyrdirecticn, and after that is limited to'movements of one square at a time. The infantry piece l2 may only capture another piece when moved in a diagonal direction, as indicated on Fig. 3 by the position of the letters C. In capturing a piece the infantry piece l2 moves into the square occupied by the captured piece and may only capture one piece at a time, and the said piece must be immediately adjacent thereto. The manner in which the light tanks [2 are moved on the board It] is'indicated in Fig. 4. The light tank may move one square at a time for wards, backward, or diagonally from the square.

The light tank 12 may not move sidewise and captures an opposing piece by movthe square occupied by the piece when immediately adjacent the light tank.

Movements of the heavy tank l2 on the face of the board It is indicated in Fig. 5. The heavy tanks 12 like the light tanks 12, may move only forwards, backwards and diagonally from the space occupied. Movements of the heavy tank differ from the light tank in that the heavy tank is capable of moving one or two squares in the given directions on any one play and also captures an opposing piece bymoving into the square occupied by the piece.

Movements of the airplane l2 are illustrated in Fig. 6. The airplane [2 bears a slight resemblance to the knight in a conventional chess game in that it can jump or fly over other pieces on the board. The airplane pieces l2 have the greatest mobility on the board and may move forward, backwards, sidewise or diagonally in a straight line from the space it occupies and may land in any square not occupied by another piece. The airplane l2 is limited in its ability to capture another piece in that it may capture only those opposing pieces immediately adjacent the square it occupies. It may not fly over apiece in order to capture an opposing piece on the opposite side of the piece over which it passed. The movements of the anti-aircraft gun 12 are illustrated in Fig. 7. The anti-aircraft gun pieces l2 are capable of moving forwards, backward, sidewards, and diagonally from the space occupied, but the movement may not exceed more than five squares on any given play. It may capture an airplane piece l2 of the opponent only if the airplane is in the line of movement of the anti-aircraft gun, and captures the airplane by moving into thespace occupied by the 3. The infantry pieces '1 in a conventionalv The details of the manner in which to be moved will be indi- I2 and the manner in posing piece. It ha backwards, sidewards and diagonally one square at a time. In capturing pieces of the opposing side, the heavy artillery piece differs from the capturing powers of the other pieces in that it does not move into the box occupied by theopthe power to permit the side possessing the piece to remove all pieces of the opposer which stand in its line of fire and remains in its own square. However, the removalof an opposers piece without moving the artillery constitutes a move. artillery piece is limited to three squares in a straight line from the square it occupies and is also capable of firing over pieces located in Fig.

squares between. the square square occupied by the opposers piece.

The heavy artillery pieces l2 'may not capture airplane pieces I2 I On each of Figs. nor of moving the ing in the squares indicate the'directions in which the pieces may be moved, and the Cs in the squares indicate the capturing ability and the direction in which ture an opposers piece. until one of the players is capable oimoving ones 3 to 8 which indicate the manpiece completely across the board and into the line of last defense of his opponent, as illustrated in players is the first line of twelve squares immediately adjacent the edge of the board.

' In the modification of the invention shown in 7 Figs, 10, 11 and 12, the smoke screen 13 is provided with a removable and foldable overcast section 20. The removable and "foldable overcast section 20 is adapted to be supported upon the top edge of. the smoke screen l3 and to. extend in opposite directions therefrom over the top of the board, as shown in Figs. 10 and ll The top edge 7 of the smoke screen I3 is provided-with a plurality of upwardly extended pins 2lwhich are adapted to be releasably engaged With bayonet slots 22 formed in the section 20 tits fold line.

Movement of. the overcast section 20 relative to the smoke screen [3 aligns the heads of the pins with the enlargedp'ortions'of :the slots 22, per mitting the overcast section 20 to be lifted out of its engagedposition with the smoke screen l3 to be folded, permitting it to be stored in a minimum The provision of the of space when not in use. overcast section 20 eliminates the possibility of the players peering over the top edgeof the smoke screen l3 to observe the manner in which the opponent is placing his pieces uponthe board.

In other respects this form-of the invention is I similar to that previously shown and. like reference'numerals identify like parts in each of the several views. I k

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentsof my invention, it is to be understood that I donot limit myself to'the precise constructionsherein disclosed andth'e right isreserved to'altchange'sand modifications come I piece. It may'not capture any the manner previously The fire power of the heavy it occupies and the various pieces, the X5 appear- 1 the pieces may be moved to capv The game is continued 7 9. The last line of defense foreach of the ing within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination With a game board, a removable screen engaging across said board, said screen including a removable section positioned on the upper edge of said screen and extending in opposite directions therefrom, and means removably mounting said section in position on said screen.

2. In combination with a game board, a removable screen engaging across said board, said screen including a removable section positioned on the upper edge of said screen and extending in opposite directions therefrom, and means removably mounting said section in position on said screen, said means comprising upwardly extending spaced pins mounted on the top edgeof said screen and releasably engaging complementary bayonet slots formed in said section.

. 3. In combination with a game board, a removable screen engaging across said board, said screen including a removable section positioned on the upper edge of said screen and extending in opposite directions therefrom, and means removably mounting said section in position on said screen, said means comprising upwardly extending spaced pins mounted on the top edge of said screen and releasably engaging complementary bayonet slots formed in said section, said screen having portions extending to opposite sides of a line passing through said pins whereby said section is supported in a substantially horizontal position.

BENJAMIN HOFFMAN. 

